Tough, very tough but “sustainable”. The 43rd will start on Sunday 1st September Ötztal Cycle Marathon with over 4,000 participants from 40 nations, who will tackle the 227 km route with an altitude difference of 5,500 metres that will cross the Tyrol region and partly Alto Adige via the Kühtai, Brenner, Giovo and Rombo passes. As always, the Austrian snipers will start the race with a powerful cannon shot that will make the bicycle saddles tremble. Then the long snake of 4,000 athletes will leave Solden to head towards the valley floor of theÖtztal. At dawn you will have to overcome the cold and then the fatigue because the Otztaler is not a walk in the park, not even for trained people. The Radmarathon is one of the most feared cycling races. A challenge of those “tough” ones but above all a challenge with yourself because it is not only those who get on the podium who win, but all those who reach the finish line. It starts from Solden in the Tyrolean valley of‘Ötztal through the Kuhtai (2,020 m), continuing in the direction Brenner (1,377 m), it crosses the border into Italy at Sterzing crossing the Giovo steps (2.090) and Rhombus (2,509 m), then returning to Solden. Over 5,500 meters of altitude difference, an endless climb for a race that features 40.5 km of flat route, 95.7 km of ascent and 101.9 km of descent. A long ride on routes where nature rules and where for one day the only noise will be the hiss of bicycles because the roads will be almost completely closed to traffic. “For us in recent years the challenge has above all been that of sustainability – explain the organizers – which plays an important role and not only when it comes to mobility. We recommend participants travel by public transport, by bus or train and the bus runs every half hour through the Ötztal valley for all spectators and participants. We have made a free and guarded bike shed available so you can collect your race pack on foot or by bike, and a shuttle service is also available before the start. After the success of last year’s pilot test with the car manufacturer Škoda we have further expanded the collaboration. Nine fully electric vehicles, supplied by Porsche Tirol, will accompany the cyclists along the route. In this way, the Ötztaler becomes a valuable model for even greater sustainability at major cycling events.”